Shortcomings were clearly on display last night

Gameover

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How about the team was beat-up and tired because the NFL did them no favors on this stretch of the schedule. On paper this should have been a loss, it wasn't!!

Now we get a mini bye week before going to New York.
How about Minny is really good in some areas that happened to cause match up problems for us? As good as the Hawks defense is, it's largely been a favorable match up for us. Minnesota front was not favorable for us. Styles make fights. If you went into this game without concerns, you're not being realistic. They were number 1 in the league in passing yards allowed. And unlike Baltimore, they hadn't fatten'd up their stats on Cleveland and a couple of other bad offenses. Don't panic. We'll be fine vs the Giants.
 

jwooten15

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CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
Even last night... We blitzed WAY more than usual, versus a duct-taped Vikings offensive line, and still, we rarely got home.

I think the lack of rush, along with not having any "ballhawks" really kills us:
-Sean Lee used to have a knack for interceptions, but that has disappeared (save the 2 point conversion interception).
-Byron "Stone Hands" Jones is athletic, but doesn't create plays.
-Hitchens had a nice would-be pick last night, but that catch was more a product of luck than skill.
- The CBs lack of playmaking difference makers goes without saying. None of them have ball skills (Olatoye did, though). Carr and Brown are decent/above average cover corners, but don't create game-changing plays.

It's pretty astounding how few of plays the defense really makes. It truly lives up to the bend-but-don't-break manta.

I agree with basically all of your points, though. Some players on our roster are becoming a waste of space.
 

canters

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No headlines here. We knew and other teams know Free is the weak line. I hoped and still hope Chaz is the answer but he may not really want it enough to play i pain, whatever his issue is.

Carr would look better with a pass rush. We need help at DE and in the secondary but will draft at the end of thr round. We might find Free's replacement at that point befor we find help on D.
 

Zordon

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Escobar should be cut for that performance. Seriously bring in Traylor for a workout this week. I'm sick of babysitting these busts. 4th year, still cant block? What are you good for?

I'm serious if we don't address this now, he'll get a holding penalty at the worst time in the playoffs.
 

Trouty

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If you're not in the game threads, sometimes the posts the first few days after a game are surreal. After 11 straight wins, this is what passes for a loss reaction around hear.

That MIN defense is really good. It showed last night. We were lucky to come out with the win, but it's pretty amazing what this team accomplished the last 11 days. Against some good teams.

BOOM.jpeg
 

SDCowboy

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If you're not in the game threads, sometimes the posts the first few days after a game are surreal. After 11 straight wins, this is what passes for a loss reaction around hear.

That MIN defense is really good. It showed last night. We were lucky to come out with the win, but it's pretty amazing what this team accomplished the last 11 days. Against some good teams.
:laugh: so much this.
 

Nav22

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Makes me chuckle at what CZ would be like if it were around during the Super Bowl years.

Those teams had flaws too, believe it or not. I specifically remember Jimmy hoping for an "ugly win, somehow someway" before a game at Atlanta in 1993. The Falcons pasted us that day.
 

Chuck 54

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Not defending Free who had a rough night, but just to be fair,

Free's man--1 strip for fumble, 0 sacks
Smith's man--2 sacks

Smith is the far superior player, so I guess he gets some lattitude; Free is the inferior player, and he gets destroyed for every missed block or penalty.
 

ABQcowboyJR

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I agree with some of the things you brought up. I have not really understood why Lucky has been on the team from the jump. I love the talent he has, speed and explosiveness, but the guy rarely shows it. When he is returning punts pick a lane and go man, way too much dancing around an tentativeness in his game. Is it lack of creativity from the OC, not enough trust in him...probably a mix of both, but either way he doesn't provide much for us IMO. I'll for sure be looking to draft his replacement come next offseason.

Now when it comes to Pablo we just don't use him right. I fully place the blame of his failure on the coaching staff. They need to play him like a WR all of the time. He is going to be a guy that has a decent career somewhere other than here. It almost feels like if a guy doesn't fit right into the JWit mold he can't be used in the offense. The coaches need to be able to adjust the offense a little to fit the skill set of players. I think 89 has talent and can be a valuable piece if you cater to his skill set. Watch Brees turn him into a pro bowler...
 

SDCowboy

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Not defending Free who had a rough night, but just to be fair,

Free's man--1 strip for fumble, 0 sacks
Smith's man--2 sacks

Smith is the far superior player, so I guess he gets some lattitude; Free is the inferior player, and he gets destroyed for every missed block or penalty.
No doubt. It was not just Free who was terrible on the line last night.
 

KRochelli

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Let's not rush to judgment after 1 game - which we found a way to win and our pass rush made the play to end it (admittedly with a penalty that should have been called as well). Our offensive line played a stinker and I expect will be much better @ NYG.

The almighty Pats have issues too - they haven't looked good the past two weeks and are Superbowl favorites. The Hawks looked horrendous against the Bucs. You just can't look like the 07 Pats every week in this league. This was a sandwich game and 3rd game in 11 days - terrible spot for the Boys to pull out a win vs a team with season on the line, but they did.

I also think the team looked flat and tired last night on O, for sure.
 

Philmonroe

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Even last night... We blitzed WAY more than usual, versus a duct-taped Vikings offensive line, and still, we rarely got home.

I think the lack of rush, along with not having any "ballhawks" really kills us:
-Sean Lee used to have a knack for interceptions, but that has disappeared (save the 2 point conversion interception).
-Byron "Stone Hands" Jones is athletic, but doesn't create plays.
-Hitchens had a nice would-be pick last night, but that catch was more a product of luck than skill.
- The CBs lack of playmaking difference makers goes without saying. None of them have ball skills (Olatoye did, though). Carr and Brown are decent/above average cover corners, but don't create game-changing plays.

It's pretty astounding how few of plays the defense really makes. It truly lives up to the bend-but-don't-break manta.

I agree with basically all of your points, though. Some players on our roster are becoming a waste of space.
How would you know the Hitchens play was luck ole,wise one? What are your football credentials to come up with this deduction? The rest is lol. Jones makes plays just not interceptions don't know what games your watching. As bad as the D was they gave up 15 pts and y'all still want to whine smh. We know they aren't the greatest so whining every week about common knowledge is,just pointless. It doesn't mean y'all will stop though but until the offseason it is what it is. I just hope and pray they keep doing just enough since its nobody really to make a difference this year.
 

Satchel89

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I know I'm always defending Escobar but the 1st penalty was not holding. It was a terrible call. Free had a bad game but the O-Line overall was bad. The pass rush has been the same all year so it's no surprise. I would be ok if Lucky is a healthy scratch from now on. I would dress McFadden over him. Why Not? It would mean only 4 receivers but it's been 4 receivers all year. He's the jet sweep guy for 1 play. He did have that catch at Green Bay I think but teams know they aren't going to throw to him and obviously they don't trust him on punt returns now. But all the teams are flawed this season. There isn't a complete team this year.
 

Trouty

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Sure but would not be as effective. Whitehead has the speed and quickness to be very effecting on those jet sweeps. Williams has good speed just not that quick twitch quickness

I like Whitehead, too. We need to see how the rest of the season plays out with him. He had a bad game, but he has abilities that others on our team don't. Remember, Zoners, the disaster that was Beasley returning kicks and punts??

I'd like to give him more of a chance.
 

BotchedLobotomy

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Can someone explain to me why Whitehead is still on this team? What does he provide to this team?
On the bright side, you could insert both Church and Wilcox in place of Whitehead into this question as recent as last year and they seemed to have improved where we don't have to wonder what they provide to this team. Maybe Wucky Lhitehead will turn it around too?
 
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